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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAviation Enthusiasts! NASA Snaps pictures of Supersonic shockwaves of 2 T-38's VERY cool!
On Tuesday, NASA released a series of stunning images that show two T-38 supersonic jetliners tearing through the atmosphere, creating sonic shock waves. The images were made possible by a NASA B-200 King Air aircraft, which ferried an updated camera imaging system up to 30,000 feet. At altitude, it followed the jets from a distance of 2,000 feet, snapping their trek through the sound barrier at 1,400 frames per second.
I am ecstatic about how these images turned out
The T-38s flew in tight formation, separated only by 10 feet. Documenting their burst through the sound barrier from such a close vantage point will help NASA accrue more data on supersonic shock waves than ever before, which is a pressing matter given the potential resurrection of supersonic passenger travel.
From here
Here's the NASA Website story;
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/supersonic-shockwave-interaction.html
dlk
(11,425 posts)nocoincidences
(2,194 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)CrispyQ
(36,221 posts)When I was a kid we heard those all the time.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)In the early oughts I lived in Palmdale, CA, home of the Lockheed Skunk Works and right across the valley from Edwards AFB and the NASA flight research center (used to be called the Dryden research center but they changed the name to honor Neil Armstrong) and heard sonic booms on a regular basis.
LiberalArkie
(15,686 posts)BootinUp
(46,924 posts)kooth
(217 posts)These are technically not jet liners, but great pictures anyway!
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,773 posts)groundloop
(11,486 posts)T-38s are rather small supersonic (barely) trainers, definitely NOT a jet-liner. The photos are fantastic, but the writing could stand to be more technically correct (And you'd think that Popular Mechanics could do better).
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)I subscribe to a weekly email newsletter from "FlightAware". Their link accompanying the story was to the Popular Mechanics piece. Inside that story is the NASA source story which I linked in my OP. Reading the NASA write up on the event makes clear the writer is knowledgeable and uses the proper terms.
I am and have always been an aviation enthusiast. I don't have a pilots license, but I have always loved and been fascinated by aircraft of all types. I put up posts like this on occasion and I endeavor to get things right.
My apologies for any confusion.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)It always bothers me when some TV commentator or writer who clearly has no clue, goes on about something like this and uses incorrect nomenclature. Don't they have editors who are supposed to consult someone who knows this shit?
Yeah...no doubt....the T-38 is about as far from a Jetliner as the Wright Flyer is from a DC-3
OxQQme
(2,550 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)The Blue Angels flying over San Francisco Bay are generating what's known as a "Vapor Cone" or "Shock Collar", which is particularly impressive, but not necessarily an indication of supersonic airspeed.
A couple of those passes at sea between or near ships are indeed +700 MPH flybys
Either way, it is cool footage, no doubt.
Hekate
(90,189 posts)Was just thinking the other day I haven't heard one in years.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)was the almost universal opposition to them flying over populated areas at speed.
NASA and others have been trying for years now to develop air frame shapes and aircraft that will produce no or nearly no sonic boom.
It's my understanding that when the British Airways and Air France Concords took off from JFK, the pilots couldn't "firewall" the throttles till they were well off the Eastern tip of Long Island.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)Its been a few years, the biggest one was back in the 80's, got everyone outside looking for the tree that fell on the house
mitch96
(13,816 posts)Living near two large and one small airport I hear all kinds of piston, radial, jet and helo sounds but this was different. I scan the sky and it was two F/A 18's flying in formation heading for the coast.. The closest military base is down in the key's if I remember correctly
Neat very distinctive sound.. They were going slow over residential area so no "boom"...rats.
m
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)Tell me this doesn't look like a blast!
Or this;
On edit to add, there are hours and hours of YouTube vids like these. Just search "Low level flight"
Kitchari
(2,157 posts)Thanks for insightful comments and post
calimary
(80,693 posts)hunter
(38,263 posts)... when I lived in Southern California.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)Very cool to see.
EX500rider
(10,517 posts)But in none of those pictures do they have a 10 ft separation. (the article's words, not yours)
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)The NASA write up is much clearer.
The pertinent paragraph;